Gun Writers of Yesteryear
by James Foral
This gem is a collection of 81 letters written by “gun cranks” to various magazines from 1903 to 1920. It covers the beginning of hunting with the “small-bore” smokeless rifle, their failures, and successes, and the return of some writers back to the “big bore” rifles, but with smokeless powder. Most of the folks are just ordinary hunters, ranchers and working folks, as there were only a couple of writers during this period that could make a living writing.
You not only get the famous writers like Townsend Whelen, Edward Crossman, Charles Newton and C. S. Landis, but unknown today but famous in their time like Allyn H. Tedmon, Charles Cottar and Horace Kephart.
Lots of interesting letters: hunting lions in East Africa with a Winchester 1894 in 32 Special and liking it better than the 405 Winchester, several articles on the .250-3000 Savage and 22 Hi-Power (Imp) along with wildcats and military rifle shooting. How about shooting coyotes and bobcats from a model T Ford in Colorado? And the constant back and forth of lever vs. bolt rifles.
Published by Wolfe Publishing in 1993, it is commonly available for less than $20 on the used book marketplace. This only edition is hardback and very well made and will last for many reads.